Torenia plant named ‘DANLOV233’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Torenia  plant named ‘DANLOV233’ particularly characterized by Plenty of delicate, funnel form, cup-shaped flowers with petals in shades of yellow with yellow blotch on lower petal; cascading bush, which maintains a compact, rounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit; densely branched plant, gracefully cascading from hanging baskets; early flowering response and stays in full bloom in moderate climate; suitable as an annual for hanging pots outdoors under partial shade; and good weather tolerance with a preferred temperature range of 15° C. to 25° C.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Torenia sp.

Variety denomination: ‘DANLOV233’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Torenia plant, botanically known as Torenia sp. of the Scrophulariaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'DANLOV233.

The new Torenia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Torenia cultivar with unique petal coloration.

The new Torenia cultivar originated from an induced mutation by gamma rays of the Torenia cultivar designated ‘TR-4-100’ (unpatented) Made in a controlled breeding program by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in 2005 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The new Torenia cultivar was discovered and selected by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated mutation in a controlled environment in May of 2005 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new Torenia cultivar by soft cuttings was first performed in June of 2005 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of ‘DANLOV233’ which in combination distinguish this Torenia as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Plenty of delicate, funnel form, cup- shaped flowers with         petals in shades of yellow with yellow blotch on lower petal;     -   2. Cascading bush, which maintains a compact, rounded plant         habit;     -   3. Vigorous growth habit;     -   4. Densely branched plant, gracefully cascading from hanging         baskets;     -   5. Early flowering response and stays in full bloom in moderate         climate;     -   6. Suitable as an annual for hanging pots outdoors under partial         shade; and     -   7. Good weather tolerance with a preferred temperature range of         15° C. to 25° C.

Plants of the new Torenia ‘DANLOV233’ differ from plants of the parental cultivar, ‘TR-4-100’ (unpatented) in the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Female Parent New Cultivar ‘TR-4-100’ Characteristic ‘DANLOV233’ (unpatented) Mature Flower color Petal shades of yellow, Petal shades of purple, with a yellow blotch with a yellow blotch on lower petal on lower petal Flower size Depth: About 3.5 cm Depth: About 3.5 cm Width: About 3.5 cm Width: About 3 cm Growth habit Cascading bush Trailing Flowering Response 7 weeks from planting 9 weeks from planting Time

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new Torenia‘DANLOV233’ is the Torenia ‘DANMOON16’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,333), in the characteristics described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison Cultivar New Cultivar ‘DANMOON16’ Trait ‘DANLOV233’ (patented Mature Flower Petal shades of yellow, with Petal shades of yellow, Color a yellow blotch on lower with no yellow blotch petal on lower petal Flower size Depth: About 3.5 cm Depth: About 3.0 cm Width: About 3.5 cm Width: About 3.2 cm Growth habit Cascading bush Cascading bush Flowering 7 weeks from planting 3 weeks from planting Response Time

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Torenia ‘DANLOV233’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘DANLOV233’.

FIG. 1 shows a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘DANLOV233’ in a hanging planter at 2 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the typical flowers, buds and leaves of ‘DANLOV233’ at 2 months of age.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Torenia ‘DANLOV233’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘DANLOV233’ as grown in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Optimal growth conditions include that plants of ‘DANLOV233’ are grown outdoors in a moderate climate and indoors during the winter season. Irrigation and fertilization are recommended on a regular basis. Plants of ‘DANLOV233’ are usually grown in full sunlight, but partial shade is required in mid summer. Plants of ‘DANLOV233’ are fully grown in 2 months from planting a cutting in the summer season and bloom all year-round in a moderate climate. The ‘DANLOV233’ plants described herein were grown indoors in 13 cm pots in a glass greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, with the day temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranging from 16° C. to 25° C. Plants of ‘DANLOV233’ were fertilized up to a level of 59 ppm N, 35.4 ppm P and 94.4 ppm K.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The age of the ‘DANLOV233’ plants described is 7 weeks.

-   Parentage: Torenia cultivar designated ‘TR-4-100’ (unpatented) -   Propagation: Tissue culture and soft tip cuttings -   Plant:     -   -   Form.—Bush, cascading.         -   Growth habit.—Rounded.         -   Height.—About 15 cm to 20 cm.         -   Spread.—30 cm to 40 cm.         -   Cold tolerance.—Frost tender. Temperatures below 5° C. may             damage plants.         -   Vigor.—Vigorous growth; plants are fully grown in 2 months             from planting cutting in during summer season. -   Stem:     -   -   Color.—Yellow-Green, RHS 144A.         -   Length.—About 20 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Pubescence.—Minimal.         -   Branching.—About 3 to 5 main branches grow from the base and             split into hundreds of secondary and tertiary branches.         -   Length of internodes.—2 to 7 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Overall shape.—Triangular.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Size of leaf.—Width: 1.5 cm to 4.0 cm Length: About 1.5 cm             to 4.0 cm.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Color (mature).—Center color of leaf: Green, RHS 137A Upper             side: Green, RHS 137A Under side: Yellow-Green, RHS 146A.         -   Color (immature).—Center color of leaf: Green, RHS 137B             Upper side: Green, RHS 137B Under side: Green, RHS 137C.         -   Leaf texture.—Upper: Pubescence present Under: Pubescence             present.         -   Venation.—Pattern: Anastomotic Color: Upper surface: Green,             RHS 137A Lower surface: Green, RHS 137C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 0.5 cm to 1.0 cm Diameter: About 2.0             mm Color: Green, RHS 143B. -   Flowers:     -   -   Blooming period.—All year round in a moderate climate or in             a greenhouse environment. In Israel, flowering occurs             between March and November outdoors.         -   Flowering response time.—About 7 weeks from planting.         -   Flowering stem.—Flowers appear along the growing stems.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Per stem: About 5 to 10;. Per plant:             About 40 to 60.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4–7 days. Depend on             temperature.         -   Type.—Single.         -   Shape.—Overall: funnel form; 5-winged; Corolla tube:             cylindrical or often broadened above; Corolla: 2-lipped, the             upper lip faintly 2-lobed, the lower lip 3-lobed.         -   Orientation at opening.—Slanted upward.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Flower size.—Depth: About 3.5 cm Width: About 3.5 cm.         -   Bud.—         -   Shape.—Oblong, cylindrical, ellipsoid, 5-winged.         -   Size.—Length: About 1.5 cm Diameter: About 1.0 cm.         -   Color.—Apex: Yellow, RHS 7A Base: Yellow, RHS 3C Middle:             Violet-Blue, RHS N92A.         -   Texture.—Pubescence on winged edges.         -   Floral tube.—Length: About 3.5 cm Width: About 0.5 cm to 1.0             cm Color: Outside: Yellow, RHS 7A (apex), Violet-Blue, RHS             N92D (middle) and Yellow, RHS 11C (base) Inside: Yellow, RHS             9A (apex), Violet, RHS 86A (middle) and Yellow, RHS 9D             (base).         -   Petals.—Number: Four, fused. Length: Upper Petal: About 1.5             cm; Side Petals: About 1.5 cm; Lower Petal: About 1.5 cm.             Width: Upper Petal: About 2.0 cm; Side Petals: About 1.0 cm;             Lower Petal: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Upper Petal: Overall:             spatulate, Apex: rounded, Base: fused; Side Petals: Overall:             spatulate, Apex: rounded, Base: fused; Lower: Overall:             spatulate, Apex: rounded, Base: fused. Margin: Undulated and             toothed Color: All petals with yellow color, and a darker             yellow blotch in the middle of the lower petal near base.             Mature Petals: Upper Surface: Upper Petal: Yellow: Near             apex, RHS 5A, and near base, RHS 5C; and margin, RHS 5A;             Side Petals: Yellow: Near apex, RHS 5A, with centralized RHS             5A, and near base, RHS 7A, and margin RHS 5A Lower Petal:             Yellow: Primarily RHS 5A, with RHS 7A blotch in the middle             near base, and RHS 5A color surrounding blotch and near             base, and margin RHS 5A. Lower Surface: Upper Petal: Yellow:             Near apex, RHS 5A, and near base, RHS 5A and margin, RHS 5A;             Side Petals: Yellow: Near apex, RHS 5A, and near base, RHS             5A and margin, RHS 5A; Lower Petal: Yellow: Near apex, RHS             5A, and near base, RHS 5A and margin, RHS 5A. Throat: Upper             throat: Violet, RHS 83A; Lower throat: Yellow, RHS 5B.             Immature Petals: Upper Surface: Upper Petal: Yellow: Near             apex, RHS 6A, and near base, RHS 6A; and margin, RHS 6A;             Side Petals: Yellow: Near apex, RHS 6A, near base, RHS 6A,             and margin RHS 6A; Lower Petal: Yellow: Primarily RHS 6A,             with RHS 9A blotch in the middle near base, and margin RHS             6A. Lower Surface: Upper Petal: Yellow: Near apex, RHS 6A,             and near base, RHS 6A and margin, RHS 6A; Side Petals:             Yellow: Near apex, RHS 6A, and near base, RHS 6C, and             margin, RHS 6A; Lower Petal: Yellow: Near apex, RHS 6C, and             near base, RHS 6C and margin, RHS 6C; Throat: Center of             Flower: Violet, RHS 83A.         -   Sepals.—Number: 5 Length: About 2.0 cm Width: About 0.5 cm             to 1.0.0 cm Shape: Two-lobed, 5-winged Apex: Acute Base:             Wedge shaped Margin: Entire Color: Green, RHS 137A.         -   Peduncle.—Length: About 1.0 cm to 3.0 cm Diameter: About 3.0             mm Color: Green, RHS 143B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Number: 2 pairs per flower, fused Color:             Violet, RHS 84C Anther: Length: About 0.3 cm; Width: About             0.1 cm Color: Purple, RHS 79A Spur: Present Filament:             Length: About 1.5 cm; upper anther shorter—about 0.5 cm             Width: About 0.1 cm Color: Purple, RHS 76B Pollen: Amount:             Moderate Color: White, RHS N155D Requirements for             pollination: Young flowers, active pollen, and receptive,             open stigma.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil: Number: One per flower Length: About 2.5             cm Stigma: Length: About 0.3 cm Width: About 0.2 cm Color:             Violet, RHS 84C Style: Length: About 1.8 cm Color: Purple,             RHS 75C Ovary: Number: 1 Length: About 0.5 cm Width: About             0.3 cm Color: Green, RHS 143B. -   Seed/fruit: None -   Pest/disease resistance and/or susceptibility: A standard     preventative spray program is sufficient as no susceptibility was     observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Sensitive to temperatures below 5° C. 

1. A new and distinct Torenia plant named ‘DANLOV233’, as illustrated and described herein. 